It seems like previous coach John MacLean didn’t have the room the way Lemaire does.

The Devils are a funny team. In a lot of ways, they’re known for their great coaches, yet they’ve had lots of different guys during their dynasty years. In fact, each of their three Stanley Cups, all won within a 10-year period, was won with a different coach.

Devils GM Lou Lamoriello knows the value in a change of coaching scenery and he’s famous for coaching switches to motivate a team.

But after a rough start to this season, plus an increasingly probable playoff absence, it might be time for the Devils to settle into a little more of a coaching groove. Holding onto Lemaire for at least one more season would allow the Devils to easily transition from one season into another, without having to learn a new system, a new personality, and a new coaching philosophy.

Lemaire should stay another year because he’s effective. The Devils can’t afford to sacrifice another 33 games of a season to a new coach.